April 5, 1919 - March 10, 2007

A obituary for Bill Glanfield

After a long and courageous battle with heart disease, Bill passed away peacefully in his sleep at the Central Care Home. Bill was born in Nanaimo Regional Hospital and was an only child. He is survived by his 3rd wife, Mildred; daughter Linda (Lee) McQuirter of Sarnia, Ontario and son Leonard (Maureen) Glanfield of Victoria. Bill was the proud grandfather of two grandchildren, Kevin (Margaret) Glanfield and Michelle (Walter) Bohn; 3 great-grandchildren, Tyler and Kevin Jr. and Jade Bohn. Bill was predeceased by his 1st wife Gloria Halliwell Anderson in 1990 and his 2nd wife Edith Dunn Glanfield in 1991.

Bill enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1941. He served for 25 years including time on an escort convoy the Atlantic during WWII and also served time during the Korean conflict. He retired from the R.C.N. in 1966 and was then employed by the BC Liquor Control Board 'til 1984. Bill was a secretary of the Victoria Power Squadron and was active with the Sidney Legion Branch #37.

He enjoyed gardening, boating, fishing and traveling including around the world three times. He had an avid interest in studying history and reading books on aviation and listening to Hawaiian music. His sense of humour will be missed.

A celebration of Bill's life was held at First Memorial Funeral Chapel, 4725 Falaise Drive, on Wednesday, March 21 at 2:00 PM and a reception followed in the Garden Room. If desired, donations in Bill's memory may be made to the Central Care Home (844 Johnson St., Victoria, BC V8W 1N3) or to a charity of your choice. Condolences can be sent online to the family .

As published in the Times-Colonist newspaper in Victoria, BC, Canada, March18-19, 2007

Photos displayed at Bill's Memorial Service

Memories

I always knew my cousin Bill as a "Navy man".  He was a compulsive record keeper, and everything in his life had to be ship shape.  My Mother and Dad (who were closer to his age than I) were his contemporaries, and would host impromptu family gatherings for the Glanfields at our home in Duncan.  These gatherings often turned into all day affairs, much to the chagrin of Bill's step-mother Amy (my Dad's sister), who after a few hours of fun was ready to "get on the road" back to their home in Nanaimo.  Bill's two children Linda and Leonard were closer to my age, and sometimes stayed for a few day's vacation at our home. Bill's 2nd wife Edith told us some hilarious stories about their (mis)adventures in their boat Vaya Con Dios.

When Bill's health problems became more serious in the last few years. I was perhaps closer to him at this time than I had been earlier.  That's when I discovered his good humour, as he would joke about his ill health, accepting the hand he had been dealt.